Protective covering for a sphygmomanometer cuff

Abstract

A disposable protective covering, structured to completely contain a cuff of sphygmomanometer, the covering including a flexible material sleeve having a front and rear panel which are attached to one another along a top edge and opposite side edges so as to define a pouch wherein the cuff is to be contained. A flap portion formed in the rear panel is adapted to be tucked into the pouch to fully enclose and contain the cuff, the flap portion including an access opening formed there so that hoses attached to the cuff may protrude from the sleeve while the cuff is protectively contained therein, the sleeve being structured for fastening about a user's arm, much like the cuff itself is ordinarily fastened.

Now that the invention has been described, what is claimed is: 
     
       1. A protective covering structured and disposed to receive and enclose therein a cuff of a sphygmomanometer, of the type having a plurality of hoses extending therefrom; the protective covering comprising: a flexible, disposable material sleeve, said sleeve including a front panel and a rear panel, each of said panels including a top edge, a bottom edge, and opposite side edges,   said front panel and said rear panel further including an outer layer and an inner layer, said inner layer being formed of a flexible, fluid impervious material, said outer layer being formed of a soft, flexible material.   said front panel being attached to said rear panel along said top edge and said opposite side edges so as to define a punch therebetween, said punch being structured and disposed to receive the cuff therein through an open lower portion thereof,   said rear panel being wider than said front panel, such that said lower edge of said rear panel is disposed in substantially spaced apart relation from said lower edge of said front panel, thereby defining a flap portion of said rear panel,   said flap portion being structured and disposed to be tucked within said pouch, through said open lower portion of said pouch, so as to substantially surround and enclosure the cuff in protected relation therein,   an adjustable access opening formed in said flap portion on said lower edge of said rear panel, said access opening being structured and disposed to allow passage of the hoses attached to the cuff therethrough, said access opening being adjustable in size and including a pair of perpendicularly disposed slits formed in said flap portion so as to form a vertical strip and a horizontal strip, said horizontal strip being sufficiently elongate such that said vertical strip may be disposed in overlying relation thereto, and such that a hook portion on said inner layer of said flap portion on said vertical strip may adhere to said outer layer of said flap portion on said horizontal strip,   fastening means disposed on said outer layer of said rear panel at a point near said top edge of one of said side edges of said rear panel, said fastening means being structured and disposed to enable said sleeve to be wrapped about a limb for adjustable, fitted fastening thereabout,   pouch closure means disposed along said bottom edge of said front panel on said inner layer, said pouch closure means being structured and disposed to securely close said pouch so as to completely contain the cuff therein, and   stabilizing means disposed within said pouch, said stabilizing means being structured and disposed to hold the cuff non-slidably within said pouch.   
     
     
       2. A protective covering as in claim 1 wherein said fastening means includes a hook pad structured and disposed to removably adhere to said soft, flexible material outer layer of said front panel, such that said sleeve may be securely wrapped about the user's arm. 
     
     
       3. A protective covering as in claim 2 wherein said pouch closure means includes a hook pad structured and disposed to removably adhere to said soft, flexible material outer layer of said rear panel, such that said flap portion may be adjustably positioned to contain said cuff within said pouch. 
     
     
       4. A protective covering as in claim 3 wherein said stabilizing means includes a hook and a loop fastener pad disposed within said pouch, at opposite distal ends of said pouch, so as to removably adhere to corresponding hook and loop fastener pads on the cuff. 
     
     
       5. A protective covering as in claim 4 wherein said sleeve is sized to contain cuffs to varying sizes, and enable said cuff to expand during use. 
     
     
       6. A protective covering as in claim 5 wherein said outer layer and said inner layer are made of a durable, washable material. 
     
     
       7. A protective covering structured and disposed to receive and enclosure therein a cuff of a sphygmomanometer, of the type having a plurality of hoses extending therefrom; the protective covering comprising: a flexible, disposable material sleeve, said sleeve including a front panel and a rear panel, each of said panels including a top edge, a bottom edge, and opposite side edges,   said front panel and said rear panel further including an outer layer and an inner layer, said inner layer being formed of a flexible, fluid impervious material, said outer layer being formed of a soft, flexible material,   said front panel being attached to said rear panel along said top edge and said opposite side edges so as to define a pouch therebetween, said pouch being structured and disposed to receive the cuff therein through an open lower portion thereof,   said rear panel being wider than said front panel, such that said lower edge of said rear panel is disposed in substantially spaced apart relation from said lower edge of said front panel, thereby defining a flap portion of said rear panel,   said flap portion being structured and disposed to be tucked within said pouch, through said open lower portion of said pouch, so as to substantially surround and enclose the cuff in protected relation therein,   an adjustable access opening formed in said flap portion on said lower edge of said rear panel, said access opening being structured and disposed to allow passage of the hoses attached to the cuff therethrough, said access opening being adjustable in size and including a pair of perpendicularly disposed slits formed in said flap portion so as to form a vertical strip and a horizontal strip, said horizontal strip being sufficiently elongate such that said vertical strip may be disposed in overlying relation thereto, and such that a hook portion on said inner layer of said flap portion on said vertical strip may adhere to said outer layer of said flap portion on said horizontal strip,   fastening means disposed on said outer layer of said rear panel at a point near said top edge of one of said side edges of said rear panel, said fastening means being structured and disposed to enable said sleeve to be wrapped about a limb for adjustable, fitted fastening thereabout,   pouch closure means disposed along said bottom edge of said front panel on said inner layer, said pouch closure means being structured and disposed to securely close said pouch so as to completely contain the cuff therein, and   stabilizing means disposed within said pouch, said stabilizing means being structured and disposed to hold the cuff non-slidably within said pouch and including a hook and loop fastener pad disposed within said pouch at opposite distal ends of said pouch, and being positioned and disposed to adhere to corresponding hook and loop fastener pads on the cuff.